Mike Golding Yacht Racing

Name: Ian McCabe

Date of birth: 26-06-1976

Nickname: Mucky because I’m always covered in stuff.

Role: I’m the shore team boat builder so I look after all the maintenance and structure of the boat, any repairs from any damage when the boys are sailing, generally just look after the boat, maintain it to the best of my ability.

If you weren’t a sailing team shore crew, what would you be doing and why: I always wanted to be a fireman, but I was too short, unfortunately. Failing that I would like to grow lots of plants and work in a greenhouse as a horticulturist.

If you were a Revel, what flavor would you be: not the coffee one! I hate Coffee Revels with a passion. Toffee, probably.

When Mike’s offshore racing, what do you do: as little as possible! From a team point of view, when Mike’s at sea, we take the opportuity to rest as it has been a frantic three months with the modifications to the boat. We are always on standby, ready to take Mike’s calls if he has any problems with the boat and if it is boat building issue, he’ll ask me what he should do about it. We also sort the container, help with the logistics for the next race and generally be on stand by in case he has any problems.

When Mike arrives in Port, what do you do: We make sure that Mike arrives safely, get him on the dock and then go through any jobs lists that he has from the race and get the boat ready for either a delivery or the next race.

What’s your favourite sandwich and why: Oooh, that’s a hard question. It would probably be smoked ham and mustard, English mustard preferably! Failing that, if I was going unhealthy, I’d go bacon and mushroom and the mushrooms done in a little bit of garlic butter.

Do you sail and to what level: I have done some sailing. I sailed quite a lot when I was younger, nationals and Europeans in small catamarans and dinghies, but my passion is not sailing any more, believe it or not, it is building stuff and generally looking after the boat. If I can get out of going sailing, I normally do.

Dream Holiday: Two weeks on a carribean island with my girlfriend.

What does Gamesa look like: A sheep!

Would you like to sail around the world non stop: Absolutely not! Couldn’t think of anything worse. I like being around people and 80-90 days on my own would be my idea of hell. I am quite happy to leave it to people like Mike.

Desert Island Disc of choice: Chris de Burgh’s greatest hits.

Qualifications: Six year apprenticeship as a shipwright from when I left school.

How would you advise someone to get a career in sailing: The best thing I did was to get my apprenticeship. Get yourself into a small boat yard and work hard. It’s not the healthiest job in the world boat building, grinding carbon, spraying and things like that, but I am practical and I absolutely love it.